National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Tuesday started levying taxes on the vehicles moving on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway at toll plaza set up at Charsoo, Kachachkot here in south Kashmir.
Every vehicle passing through the toll plaza will be chargedRs 85. Therefore, Rs 170 will be charged per day on any vehicle moving to andfro on the highway.
“How can we pay Rs 170 per day when we are already inflictedwith losses? If government will not revoke this order we will hit the streets,”said a sumo driver, showing a receipt of Rs 85 collected as toll by NHAI.
A medical representative Muhammad Yaseen of Budgam travelingto district hospital Anantnag said that he was surprised when he was stopped nearthe toll plaza and asked to pay Rs 85 before moving ahead.
“I don’t earn as much as what is being charged. If thisorder is not revoked I might lose my job because I can’t pay Rs 170 everyday toreach Anantnag” he said.
As the toll was made operational on Tuesday most of thepeople protested against it and refused to pay, leading to heavy traffic jamson the highway around the toll plaza.
An official said toll tax is not applicable for peopleliving within the radius of 20 kilometers from the toll plaza but peoplequestioned about those falling beyond the limits.
“I live here in Kadipora Anantnag ,30 kms, from toll plazawhich means I fall beyond the limits. How can I pay Rs 170 everyday to reach myshop located in Awantipora,” said Abdul Rashid, a shopkeeper.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan told GreaterKashmir that from now onwards people living within 20 kilometers radius of tollplaza will be exempted.
Asked about those falling beyond limits, he said, deservingpeople will be issued a card and they would be exempted from the toll tax.”People should not worry because the new toll plaza will work like Nagrotatoll plaza in Jammu,” said Khan.